Rebels free captive cop

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday freed a policeman held captive for 78 days in the same village in Bukidnon where he was seized by Maoist rebels early this year.

Released was PO2 Gerome Anthony Natividad of the Kalilangan town police in Bukidnon. He was freed in an order signed by Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Natividad, who hails from Pangantucan town, Bukidnon, was caught by the NPA at a rebel checkpoint in Barangay Dominorog in Talakag town, Bukidnon in Feb. 9. He was taken captive about the same time other NPA rebel groups seized soldiers and police officers in Misamis Oriental and Caraga on separate operations.

Natividad was on his motorcycle from Kalilangan and was bound to Camp Alagar in Cagayan de Oro when he was stopped and seized by some 60 rebels from the NPA’s Mount Kitanglad Committee Command.

The NPA freed Natividad at the social hall of Barangay Dominorog at around 11:45 am, ending his over two months of captivity.

His wife Stephanie was there to welcome him back.

Natividad was handed over by the NPA to Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang who led the group of third party facilitators. The NPA was represented by one Ka Malim Mabini.

Natividad said he was thankful to Calang, Mayor Moreno and other mayors and all those who helped in facilitating his release.

He said the rebels treated him well, and he was looking forward to reporting back for work in Kalilangan.

Calang noted that Natividad was released despite the absence of a formal government declaration of a suspension of military and police operations in Bukidnon.

But the release of the NPA captive came days after Mayor Oscar Moreno wrote Camp Evangelista after meeting with Bishop Calang and Lt. Col. Jessie Alvares, deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division.

Calang said Moreno’s letter or “expression of aspiration” helped in speeding up Natividad’s release.

Moreno, chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, came and witnessed Natividad’s release along with Bukidnon mayors Omaradji Pizarro of Kalilangan town and Miguel Silva of Pangantucan town. The two Bukidnon town mayors earlier called on the military and police to suspend their operations to allow the NPA to release the captive.

Bishop Calang said Natividad was unharmed and looked fit.

“Hinaot nga mao unta kini ang katapusang crisis ug dili na unta masundan pa,” said Calang.

Calang said Natividad’s release was a show of goodwill and a display of sincerity on the part of the NDF that has resumed peace negotiations with the government.

Mayor Moreno meanwhile called on negotiators from the government and the NDF to speed up the negotiations, and finalize a peace settlement to end the decades old communist insurgency in the country.